The start of a new school year sees some counties scrambling to fill teacher vacancies, including Harrison County. Closer examination of the situation is troubling.

Barbara Owens, director of Professional Development School Partnership and Clinical Experiences at Fairmont State University, outlines some of the reasons we have a shortage of new teachers.

“They want to engage with students in meaningful work and love their content area,” she said. “However, the extrinsic rewards, such as respect and low salary, tend be the reasons that they leave the field too early. We must be more supportive at all levels.”

Harrison County has openings in special education, vocational agriculture and two Spanish positions. This is the kind of thing that alarms Owens. …